Ed Gein isn’t a monster. You might read this and think I’m crazy, but if we dive into the recently released TV series Monster: The Ed Gein Story by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, you might feel the same.
The show is receiving well-deserved attention, as Murphy and Brennan did an amazing job of capturing the eerie atmosphere in Wisconsin around the 1950s. The famous killer, Ed Gein, was officially convicted of two murders; however, he didn’t just kill. Gein would dig up bodies from a cemetery and use the skin and bones for household items and clothing.
The series highlights these dark moments in the first few episodes. While watching, people may assume the show will only discuss the evil of Gein, as I did. However, Murphy and Brennan impressed me with the final two episodes.
Episodes eight and nine showcase a different perspective on the story that I believe is most important. Gein is caught for all of his wrongdoings and is later diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia wasn’t common back in the 1950s. Because of this, the show depicts the mental battle between schizophrenia and Gein in a confusing way. Not only did Gein not understand his condition, but the doctor also struggled to aid his health.
When Gein finds out about the mental disorder he has been dealing with his entire life, it struck a plethora of emotions, bringing me to tears. The actor Charlie Hunnam did an amazing job portraying Gein in such a vulnerable state.
Critics say that the show is trying to humanize Gein’s actions and that his schizophrenia doesn’t justify the lives he took. I agree that his actions hurt many people, but to me it seems that the producers are trying to recognize that his actions weren’t his own.
With schizophrenia, one isn’t aware what is real and fake, so Gein wasn’t truly aware of what he was doing with these bodies. Since this all took place shortly after the Holocaust, Gein thought that the horrific murders were nothing out of the ordinary.
Along with unknowingly having schizophrenia, Gein suffered growing up as well. The TV series highlighted the complicated relationship he had with his mother. All he wanted was to make her proud, but she was never satisfied.
There are many aspects of Gein’s life that, in a way, manifested the outcome of his fragmented mind. Despite his troubled life, Monster: The Ed Gein Story made it clear that there are always two sides to a story, which can affect how we perceive someone’s situation, no matter how gruesome it may be.
